Song Trivia (off topic)

[Guest guest]

In case some of you are wondering just how old us ol' timers are that

remember this song.....here's a clue. And, how can you go wrong when

it was a song for 'the Duke'?

The Singing Fisherman

He was born Gale Horton in Los Angeles, California, on April 3,

1925. He was raised as a member of a sharecropping family who had

moved to Tyler Texas in search of work. His mother taught him how to

play the guitar, and he also demonstrated his athletic ability by

winning basketball scholarships to Baylor University and then to the

University of Seattle. Before he completed his degree, however, his

interest in fishing led him to Alaska, where he worked in that

industry.

ny Horton began his singing career in 1950 on KXLA in Pasadena.

Soon he appeared on KLAC, performing on Cliffie Stone's Hometown

Jamboree. Because of his talent for fishing he became known as " The

Singing Fisherman. " He made his first recordings for Cormac in 1951

and then for Fabor Robison's Abbott Records. Later, he went to Dot

and then to Mercury, with little success.

In 1953, ny married Hank 's widow, Jean. Through her

efforts, both with money and encouragement, he was able to better

himself. As a result of his growing reputation, he became one of the

leading artists on the Louisiana Hayride in 1955. He took on Tillman

s as his manager in 1956, and his first hit came on Columbia

with the song " Honky Tonk Man " (a major hit for Dwight Yoakam in

1986). This was quickly followed with the song " I'm a One Woman Man "

(recorded by in 1989). At this time, ny made many

appearances throughout the United States, including the Grand Ole

Opry. He also had his own radio show in Tyler, Texas, on KLIV. More

hit songs followed in 1957, such as I'm Coming Home, The Woman I

Need, and All Grown Up. Despite his success, ny was still looking

for a signature sound, and also his first Number One Hit.

He achieved both in 1959, with the release of the song " When It's

Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below). " Saga songs such as this

became his forte, and when he next released Jimmy Driftwood's " The

Battle of New Orleans, " he became a household name in Country Music.

This song was a big hit both on the country and pop charts, and

became the biggest song of 1959. It even became a moderate hit in the

UK, where it was banned on the BBC for its mentioning " the bloody

British. " This song was followed by a string of hits,

including " ny Reb " and " Sink the Bismark. " The title song to the

Wayne movie, North to Alaska, would prove to be ny's last

hit while he was alive.

The Skyline Club in Austin was the last place he, like Hank ,

performed at. Amidst an atmosphere supposedly filled with

premonitions of his death, after this show he left by car with

Tillman s and Tommy Tomlinson, his bass player. Tragically,

early on the morning of November 5, 1960, ny Horton was killed

when a drunk driver hit his car head on near Milano, Texas. The other

passengers suffered serious injuries and eventually recovered. The

driver of the other vehicle, (age 19) also died. ny

was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Bossier City, Lousiana.

During the years after his death, ny Horton remained quite

popular. Hits continued to be released posthumously during the

early 1960's, such as " Sleepy Eyed " and the re-issue of " Honky

Tonk Man. " His albums continued to be sold well into the

1990's, with several different compilations being released. Although

his complete catalog of recordings is not very large, his CDs are

still available for purchase today.

Like so many others that have been lost to tragedy, ny Horton's

loss was deeply felt by his many fans. There is no telling how

popular he might have become had he not been taken from us so soon.

Let us not forget the man and the contributions he made to Country

Music.

___________

and Gale, if you are totally curious about the tune, you can download

the song! I really love your jacket....especially honoring Marque.

C.